The Kayton at Montgomery was in operation prior to 1946, when its operators, Leonard T. Houghton of Franklin, Pennsylvania, and Paul V. McKay of Montgomery, opened another Kayton Theatre in Franklin. The Kayton Amusement Company also operated the Orpheum Theatre in Montgomery during this period.

There had also been a Kayton Theatre at Grove City, Pennsylvania, operating at least as early as 1938, but it had been sold in early 1946 and renamed the Lee Theatre by its new owners.

There is something strange here; Comments and information on other websites indicate that the Kayton Theater – now the Barrow-Civic – in Franklin, PA was the Kayton Theater that replaced the fire-destroyed Park Theater in 1944. It would be too wild a coincidence if both Kaytons replaced fire-demolished Park Theaters.

Is this theater still around? I am in the process of buying and rehabbing the Philippi Grand and if it proves profitable I want to work on reopening other theaters in WV, KY, OH, PA, MD, and VA. There are so many wonderful old theaters with more character than any modern cookie cutter places.

The Kayton was open in the early 70s. I remember my father taking me there to see Westworld, which was released in November 1973. It’s likely that it was a bit later with Westworld being shown as a second run. I also remember seeing Herbie Rides Again (summer 1974), but not 100% sure it was at the Kayton (could have been 7th Heaven in Cheylan, WV).